MEMBERSHIP OF THE NORTH WEXFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
You are most welcome to join our North Wexford Historical Society for a modest membership fee.

Our membership year runs from April 1st 2024 to March 31st 2025. If you wish to join we are now taking new upcoming membership and ask that you renew at our next lecture or our AGM.  Annual adult single membership (Euro 15) and Family memberships (Euro 25) are available. Our student membership is €5 and we would encourage students who enjoy history to join our society and take part in our lectures and projects. Membership is essential as it supports our talks program, summer tours and funds projects to preserve our valuable local history. Only members are allowed to come on tours or trips.

Please ask any member or the committee about joining or renewing your membership of the North Wexford Historical Society who will be happy to help you. We love having new members who are passionate about local heritage and history. We will keep in touch through text, email and whatsapp.

News & Notices:

Contact us: our new email address is: northwexfordhistoricalsoc@gmail.com or speak to any of the committee who will be happy to help you to keep informed for news and notices.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2024: 

If you are interested in attending our events/talks or tours please contact us at the following email: northwexfordhistoricalsoc@gmail.com to register or book your place. Further information is below.

If you wish to attend a talk hosted by us in Gorey Library you can also book through the library in Gorey as well – just give them a call. Gorey Library also promote our talks on their face book page. We thank Gorey Library and staff for their continued support and giving us the space to host the monthly talks. Talks in the library are free to attend with space reserved for members of the society.

The society membership fees allow us to engage speakers for our monthly talks and run our successful summer tours. Members will be contacted about our events, talks and exhibitions.

Tours:

You must be a subscribed member to the society to attend any of our tours. Due to popularity booking on tours is first come first served and must be paid for in advance. No refund policy applies except for exceptional circumstances and this will be reviewed by the tour organiser or committee as necessary. This will hopefully avoid last minute cancellations which may cause problems for the organiser as costs and events have been booked and arranged. A cancellation waiting list will apply once the quota of the tour is reached if spaces come available for any reason. We hope you understand this as it is in the interest of being fair to everybody involved. It takes a lot of time and effort to arrange our day tours.

Also keep an eye on the Gorey Notes in “The Guardian”, NWHS Whats app group, Facebook, Website, email and text for updates on our lecture program and for news and notice of events.

As a paid up member we will be in touch by text, email, whats app group as well to keep you informed.

Events, Talks & Tours 2023

  • Our next talk “The Elmes Family Letters 1785-1817” will be on Thursday 25th April in Gorey Library at 7pm – see below for further details

Our April lecture will be on “The Elmes Family Letters of Old Ros written between 1785-1817” and is kindly given by Dr Ida Milne who is a social historian of infectious diseases in Ireland of the 19th and 20th centuries and writes on the Irish Protestant Identity. Ida will be ably assisted by her cousin Mr. Paul Donnelly in this most interesting talk. Paul has done extensive research on The Elmes Family Ancestry and will add to the story and bring the letters to life with Ida. Dr. Ida Milne lectures in Carlow College and Trinity College Dublin. Ida has many Wexford connections and has recently given a talk to the society on the Spanish Flu of 1918 in the Methodist Church Gorey.

Field Trip: Sunday April 28th to Ballymore Historic Features: We will visit our unique local historic feature only a few miles away as an afternoon event. Only paid up members of the society shall be invited. Margaret Donovan will host us with a tour of the unique family museum before it opens for the summer season with exclusive access and weather permitting we will view the 1798 camp location and the Norman Motte which are all situated on the Ballymore Estate. Margaret will bring to life the story of the Donovan Family as well through the years and how the family were involved in 1798 on both sides of the divide, right down to D Day in WW2, the celebrated artist Phoebe Donovan and the estate farm life. Tea & coffee will be provided. €12 per person. This trip is limited to 30 people due to the size of the museum. We will run another field trip if you do not get on this trip. Booking essential with Gerard. All paid up members will be contacted by text, whatsapp and email. Due to the nature of the working farm & estate; car pooling will apply. No bus as it will not fit. Members will be asked to share car space with each other and help out and Gerard will co-ordinate this. Your understanding would be appreciated. We will meet at the Gorey Library at 2.30pm for arrival to Ballymore at 3pm. Contact Gerard if you wish to book please.

May Tour: Saturday May 18th to Waterford
Our tour season kicks off with a day tour on Saturday May 18th to Waterford. Details are still being worked out but please hold the date in your diary regarding times and schedule. Cost is €35 per person and is only open to paid up members of the society.
We plan to see the Silver Museum and the Museum of Time with another event in the afternoon possibly Congreve Gardens. We will travel down to south wexford before we cross over into Waterford by bus.
Due to the large number of increased membership it will be first come first served for booking your spot on the tour. Money will be collected in advance on an evening & a no refund policy will apply up to 5 days beforehand of tour date  (unless exceptional circumstances) as we would like to avoid people pulling out at the last minute as this can affect the tours when cancellations occur, others will be disappointed & bookings -reservations have already been made for the tour prior to the day. We appreciate your understanding in this matter. If you do intend to come on our tour please contact Gerard or any member of the committee or email at northwexfordhistoricalsoc@gmail.com
September Tour 4th,5th and 6th – Wales!
We are investigating a 3 day – 2 night tour to Wales in September. Our successful overnight tours are enjoyed by all and very popular with Ballina & Castlebar being enjoyed last september by all who took part. Being a bit different we are looking into a visit to Wales and would like to see your interest in this going ahead subject to numbers. Peter is kindly looking into all this for us so we are only asking about potential interest to give us an idea if it is viable and like last year we will share all details, pricing and itinerary with paid up members of the society. However we will have to book and reserve hotel, boat and bus so once we gauge the level of interest you will then hear more about it as soon as possible so we can make appropriate reservations in a timely manner at the best value. We will tell you more about this at the AGM about the working itinerary and places of interest along with the hotel details. This tour is only open to paid up members of the society.
GOREY 400:
In 2019; Gorey commemorated the 400th anniversary of the signing of the town charter which gave formal recognition to the town. The town charter was signed in October 1619 under the auspices of Bishop Thomas Ram who then renamed the town as Newborough; however this new town name never became popular or into general use. Gorey Municipal Council and NWHS have marked the year 2019 with celebratory events through the themes of reflection, renewal and re-invention. NWHS are pleased to be involved and supporting in association with The Byrne Perry Summer School and Gorey Municipal District – a book titled “Gorey 400 – the History of Gorey and North Wexford”. The book is progressing and being formatted and photos are currently being added and will be published in 2024. Block 1 of the book is now being reviewed! We hope that the book will be a timely and readable history of the town and wider region with different areas of interest which is sure to appeal to a wide audience. The book will be for posterity and enjoyment by all so we are ensuring it will be well worth the wait and hard work by the volunteers and contributors.

Please check our website and face book page for further updates as they happen.

PAST EVENTS:

2024

11/04/2024: The Annual General Meeting of North Wexford Historical Society was held at 7pm.

06/04/2024: Gorey Market House Public Consultation with GKMD, WCC, A Playful City & ODKM Architects

05/04/2024: Gorey Market House Consultation with GKMD, WCC, A Playful City and ODKM Architects

28/03/2024: Talk: Titania’s Palace and it’s North Wexford Connections by James Grannell in Gorey Library

29/02/2024: Talk: A Brief History of Mining in Ireland from the Earliest Times to now by Peter O’Connor in Gorey Library

25/01/2024: Talk: The History of Uilleann Piping in County Wexford from the 1700’s by Mark Redmond with music interlude and a photographic exhibition of Fleadh Cheoil Gorey 1962 by Sean Lacey in Gorey Library.

2023

08/12/2023: North Wexford Annual Christmas Party at The Coach House

07/12/2023: Award Handover: To History Teacher Liz Russell the “Gorey Community School Senior Perpetual History Award” presented by The North Wexford Historical Society at our committee meeting

01/12/2023: Book Launch: “The Folklore of Wexford Volume 1 – Our Living Folklore, Traditions, Stories and Calendar Customs” by Michael Fortune with The North Wexford Historical Society in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel, Gorey.

30/11/2023: Talk: “The Second World War off the Wexford Coast” by Dr. Michael Kennedy Royal Irish Academy in Gorey Library with guests of the family & community of Kilmichael Point Look Out Post 10

26/10/2023: Talk: Hallowe’en Folklore Lecture by Michael Fortune of Folklore.ie in Gorey Library

23/09/2023: Gorey Main Street Exhibition: Following on from the success of the Culture Night Exhibition the photographic Exhibition ran on Saturday from 11am to 4pm. Thanks to the Funge Family for the loan of their photographic collection.

22/09/2023: Culture Night 2023: A lecture on the Main Street Gorey by John Nangle and lecture on the Historic Market House by Willie Willoughby from 7 to 8pm in the downstairs room of Gorey Market House in association with Wexford County Council, Gorey Municipal District and the Arts Office Wexford as part of Culture Night 2023. This was our first time taking part in Culture Night.

22/09/2023: Culture Night 2023: A photographic Exhibition of Gorey Main Street from 4pm to 9pm as part of Culture Night 2023 in association with Wexford County Council, Gorey Municipal District and the Arts Office Wexford and the Funge Photographic Collection as part of Culture Night 2023. This was our first time taking part in Culture Night.

06/09/2023: Tour: A overnight tour to Athlone and Mayo led by Peter O’Connor with a visit to Athlone Castle, Castlebar – The Museum  of Irish Country Life, Jackie Clarke Collection Ballina, The Ceide Fields & the Davitt Museum in Straide with a stay in the Ellison Hotel Castlebar

19/08/2023: Talk: A walking history talk and tour of Gorey Town led by Willie Willoughby Local Historian as part of Heritage Week 2023 with the support of the Heritage Council and GKMD

19/08/2023: The Market House Gorey – collection of signatures on our petition to keep Gorey Market House in public ownership for the community as part of our Gorey Heritage

13/08/2023: Talk: Guarding Neutral Ireland: Kilmichael Point Look Out Post & the Coast Watching Service by Dr. Michael Kennedy Royal Irish Academy, Chris Murray Landowner and NWHS at Kilmichael Point, North County Wexford as part of Heritage Week 2023 with the support of Wexford County Council and the Heritage Council

12/08/2023: Tour: County Dublin with a visit to the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens with Guided Tour and Glasnevin Cemetery with Guided Tour of its Characters by John Nangle.

22/07/2023: Tour: County Wicklow with a visit to Glendalough Monastic Site, Woodenbridge, Wicklow Gaol and Walking Tour Wicklow Town by Pauline Shortall. With tour guide Carmel and John.

01/07/2023: Tour: Carlow with a mystery tour to Leighlinbridge (Black Castle), Ballymoon Castle, St. Lazerian’s Cathedral in Old Leighlin, Goodly Barrow Museum & Cafe, Carlow Aboretum, Carlow County Museum and Carlow Military Museum by Michael Considine. With tour guide Padraic Dooley from Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society.

20/05/2023: Tour: North Dublin Tour to Skerries Mills and Newbridge House led by Gerard Fleming

27/04/2023: Talk: Dialect, Languages and Place-names of County Wexford’  [Canúintí, Teangacha agus Logainmneacha i Loch Garman] by Annie Jowett, Queen’s University Belfast in Gorey Library

06/04/2023: The Annual General Meeting of North Wexford Historical Society was held at 8pm.

30/03/2023: Talk: Rural Electrification in the North Wexford Area through maps and documents by Brian McMahon of the ESB Archives in Gorey Library

23/02/2023: Talk: The Religious Riots in Arklow (The Arklow Question) by Pat Power in The Loch Garman Arms

26/01/2023: Talk: The Guards – An Garda Síochána of County Wexford by Tom Miller and Tony Fagan in Gorey Library

2022

15/12/2022: Talk: The Wexford Newfoundland Connections by Michael Fortune in Gorey Library

09/12/2022: North Wexford Annual Christmas Party at The Coach House

24/11/2022: Talk: The Role of the Land Agent on the Country estate of Coolattin by Kevin Lee in Gorey Library

27/10/2022: Talk: Tom Kehoe – the man from two counties; and member of “The Squad” by Christopher Power in Gorey Library. 

01/10/2022: Tour: Dublin Tour to Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park Sights, Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the National War Memorial Garden Islandbridge led by Peter O’Connor.

22/09/2022: Talk: Farewell to the Famine – Fr Thomas Hore and the parish who went to Wexford, Iowa by Jim Rees in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel.

13/08/2022: Tour: Kells Heritage Town – High Crosses & Round Tower & Trim Castle Tour led John Nangle.

23/07/2022: Tour: Historic Walking Tour – Gorey & The First World War led by Willie Willoughby.

09/07/2022: Tour: Castletown House & Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park led by Pauline Shortall.

29/06/2022: Tour: Historic Walking Tour of Gorey Town by Willie Willoughby.

11/06/2022: Tour: Johnstown Castle & Wexford Town Walking Tour by Monica Crofton led by Gerard Fleming.

07/05/2022: Tour: Huntingdon Castle in Clonegal & Walking Tour of Carnew by Kevin Lee led by Gerard Fleming and Philip Jones.

28/04/2022: Talk: Parnell the Industrialist and his mining legacy – by Pat Power in Gorey Library.

07/04/2022: The Annual General Meeting of North Wexford Historical Society was held at 8pm.

24/03/2022: Talk: Introduction to Ballyoughter Parish and it’s history and website development which lies 12kms south of Gorey by Shane Eivers; in Gorey Library

24/02/2022: Talk: The Hidden Details in Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows [featuring Christchurch Gorey]; by Tony Walsh with Lucy Costigan and Michael Cullen; in Christchurch Gorey.

20/01/2022: Talk: By zoom: Captain Robert Halpin The 19th century telegraph cable layer – a history by Jim Rees.

2021

25/11/2021: Talk: By zoom: Earl Fitzwilliam of Coolattin Estate – Responding to the Great Famine in South Wicklow and North Wexford by Kevin Lee.

26/09/2021 Walk: Historical Walk of Gorey Main Street [the other side of Main Street following 15th August walk] led by John Nangle.

23/09/2021: Talk: The Croppies did not Forget. The Role of the North Cork Militia before and during the 1798  Rising in Wexford and how the legacy of the North Cork Militia has entered the sporting, literary and political consciousness by Michael Considine given by Zoom online meeting.

15/08/2021 Walk: Heritage Week: Historical Walk of Gorey Main Street [AIB to Ulster Bank] led by John Nangle.

10/07/2021 Tour: Mini Tour of the Graveyards in Kilcavan and Kilnahue by John Nangle.

27/05/2021: Talk: The War of Independence in County Wexford by Barry Lacey given by Zoom online meeting.

2020

30/01/2020: Talk: The Bog Bodies by Isabella Mulhall of The National Museum, Foyer, Civic Centre Gorey.

27/02/2020: Talk: “Wexford Orange Men” by Quintin Dougan, Foyer, Civic Centre Gorey.

2019

31/01/2019: Talk: Influence of Geography & Geology on Early Ireland by Dr. Robert Meehan, Ashdown Hotel.
31/01/2019: Gorey 400 Exhibition and Official Opening; Celebration of Gorey Community; Ashdown Hotel, Gorey.
28/02/2019: Talk: The Sinking of the M.V. Leinster by Dorothy Brophy, Gorey Public Library.
28/03/2019: Talk: The Irish Parlimentarians since the foundation of the State by Anthony White, Gorey Public Library.
25/04/2019: Talk: The History of Christchurch Gorey by Willie Willoughby; Christchurch, Gorey.
25/05/2019: Tour: The Dublin Tour EPIC Museum and The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship led by Gerard Fleming.
29/06/2019: Tour: The Athy Tour Shackleton Museum & Coal Mining Museum Castlecomer led by Richard & Liz Millar.
27/07/2019: Tour: Kilruddery House & Gardens and visit to Dalkey Castle led by Pauline Shortall.
17/08/2019: Tour: Dunbrody Abbey & St. Mullins led by John Nangle.
29/08/2019: AGM: North Wexford Historical Society Annual General Meeting.
07/09/2019: Tour: Overnight Tour to Northern Ireland – Armagh, Derry, Belfast, Omagh taking in Historical Sites.
26/09/2019: Talk: The Archaeology of Gorey Bypass by Barry Leacy, Gorey Civic Library.
17/10/2019: Talk: The Versailles Treaty by Mark Perry, Gorey Methodist Church Hall, Market Square.
31/10/2019: Talk: The Esmonde Family of Ballynastragh by John Nangle, Gorey Civic Library.
15/11/2019: Event: North Wexford History and Heritage Festival Weekend 15th to 17th November, Gorey.
21/11/2019: Talk: General Bulfin of World War 1 his life story by John Powell, Gorey Methodist Church.
5/12/2019: Talk: History of The Border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by Darach McDonald in association with Gorey Library.
13/12/2019: NWHS Annual Christmas Party

2018
11/01/2018: Talk: Enniscorthy Castle by Mary Brickley
22/02/2018: Talk: The Market House by Willie Willoughby
25/03/2018: Talk: Willie Redmond by Jarlath Glynn
26/04/2018: Talk: The Russian Revolution by Judith Devlin
23/05/2018: Tour: Dublin Museum & Dail Eireann led by Willie Willoughby
23/06/2018: Tour: Trinity College & Grand Lodge of Ireland led by Michael Reddy
21/08/2018: Tour: St. Canice’s Cathedral and Shankill Castle led by John Nangle
01/09/2018: Tour: 2 day tour to Limerick led by Peter O’Connor
28/09/2018: Talk: The Influenza Epidemic by Dr. Ida Milne
25/10/2018: Talk: The Archaeology of Ferns by Barry Leacy
29/11/2018: Talk: First World War Irish Soldiers – Wills and Letter by Hugh McShane
06/12/2018: Talk: The Sufragettes by Mary McAuliffe; arranged by Gorey Library
07/12/2018: NWHS Annual Christmas Party

2017
26/01/2017: Talk: Michael Davitt by Dr. Carla King
23/02/2017: Talk: History of the GAA by Dr. Paul Rouse
23/03/2017: Talk: Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin by Willie Willoughby
04/05/2017: Talk: The Congo by Siobhan Pierce
25/05/2017: Tour: Heritage Park and Our Lady’s Island led by Willie Willoughby
01/07/2017: Tour: St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle led by Michael Considine
29/07/2017: Tour: Avondale, Glenmalure & Altidore Castle led by Pauline Shortall
12/08/2017: Tour: Wexford Town and Johnstown Castle led by Philip Jones
09/09/2017: Tour: 2 day tour to Dungarvan and Cork led by Peter O’Connor
16/09/2017: Talk: Graveyard Seminar led by John Nangle
28/09/2017: Talk: Min Ryan by Risteard Mulcahy
19/10/2017: Talk: Vinegar Hill Archaeological Findings by Byron Jones
28/11/2017: Talk: The Vikings by Linda Doran
07/12/2017: Talk: The Reformation by Canon Mark Hayden

2016
07/01/2016: Talk: 1916 National Perspective by Dr. Brian Hughes
31/03/2016: Talk: 1916 Local Perspective by Rita Edwards
05/05/2016: Talk: Women of 1916 by Dr. Eve Morrison
28/05/2016: Tour: Asgard Collins Barracks & Howth led by Willie Willoughby
18/06/2016: Tour: Woodstock, Jerpoint, Kilkenny Castle led by Michael Considine
23/07/2016: Tour: Collins Barracks, Kilmainham Gaol, Glasnevin led by Pauline Shortall
07/09/2016: Tour: 2 day tour to Boyne Valley led by Peter O’Connor
29/09/2016: Talk: E.Shackleton & T.Crean by Kevin Kenny
27/10/2016: Talk: Fiach Mac Hugh O’Byrne by Dr. Emmett O’Byrne – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
17/11/2016: Talk: The Somme by Roddy Bailey
08/12/2016: Talk: Delia Murphy Songs by Carmen Cullen

2015
15/01/2015: Talk: Shell Shocked Victims Richmond Hospital by Professor Brendan Kelly
26/02/2015: Talk: Irish Soldiers and Officers 1922-1945 by Dr. Steven O’Connor
26/03/2015: Talk: Holocaust Survivor by Tomi Reichenthal
30/04/2015: Talk: Streets of Gorey by Willie Willoughby
30/05/2015: Tour: Dunbrody and Kennedy Homestead led by Willie Willoughby
20/06/2015: Tour: Ardgillen and Malahide Castles led by Zeta Ferguson
18/07/2015: Tour: The Curragh led by Michael Reddy
15/08/2015: Tour: Wicklow Gaol, Arklow Maritime Museum led by Pauline Shortall
05/09/2015: Tour: 2 day tour to Sligo led by Peter O’Connor
17/09/2015: Talk: Gallipoli by Roddy Bailey
29/10/2015: Talk: The Asgard by Pat Murphy
26/11/2015: Talk: Medieval Farming by Dr. Margaret Murphy – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
10/12/2015: Talk: “With their Guns and Drums” by Brendan McQuaile
Annual Christmas Party

2014
10/01/2014: Talk: History of the GAA by Dr. Ida Milne
22/02/2014: Talk: Gorey through the Ages by Willie Willoughby
28/03/2014: Talk: John Redmond by Dermot Meleady
25/04/2014: Talk: Brian Boru by Emmett Stafford
24/05/2014: Tour: 1798 Enniscorthy led by Willie Willoughby
05/07/2014: Tour: Coollattin, Duckett’s Grove led by Mattie Duggan
26/07/2014: Tour: Waterford Viking Triangle led by Philip Jones
23/08/2014: Tour: West Wicklow led by Peter O’Connor
25/09/2014: Talk: Church of Ireland and the I.C.A by Dr. Catherine O’Connor
20/10/2004: Talk: Kynoch’s Ammunition Factory by Jim Rees
27/11/2014: Talk: Irish Slavery by Philip Casey – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
12/12/2014: Talk: “March Away my Brothers” by Brendan McQuaile
Annual Christmas Party

2013
25/01/2013: Talk: Tara Hill by Ronnie McCormack
15/02/2013: Talk: Life in the Trenches by Brian Kenny
26/04/2013: Talk: The Peace Process by Ted Barrington
25/05/2013: Tour: Gorey Workhouse led by Willie Willoughby
25/06/2013: Tour: The Hook led by Michael Dwyer
25/07/2013: Tour: Curraghmore & Portlaw led by Mattie Duggan
10/08/2013: Tour: Glendalough led by Michael Considine
27/09/2013: Talk: Murderers, Rebels and Drunkards by Brian Donovan
25/10/2013: Talk: The Houses of North Wexford by Dan Walsh
22/11/2013: Talk: Golden Ages of Ireland by Dr O’Cathain – Aidan Breen Memorial Lecture
05/12/2013: Talk: Coollattin Evictions by Jim Rees
Annual Christmas Party

2012
25/01/2012: Talk: The Wexford Lockout
17/02/2012: Talk: The Big Flu by Dr. Ida Milne
16/03/2012: Talk: Croghan Gold Rush by Peadar McArdle
16/03/2012: Talk: Co Wexford Place Names by Michael Considine
20/04/2012: Talk: The Esmondes by John Nangle
19/05/2012: Tour: Courtown led by Willie Willoughby
20/06/2012: Tour: Carrick-on-Suir led by Mattie Duggan
21/07/2012: Tour: Ballygarret led by Dan Wafer & Philomena Egan
01/09/2012: Tour: Kilanerin led by Fionntain O’Suilleabhain
08/09/2012: Talk: North Wexford Church of Ireland Families by Michael Dwyer
26/10/2012: Talk: Royal British Legion by David O’ Morchoe
16/11/2012: Talk: McMurrough after the Conquest by Dr. Emmett O’Byrne
07/12/2012: Talk: An Irish Revolution by Dr. Ruan O’Donnell
14/12/2012: Talk: 1950’s Gorey by Mattie Duggan

2011
04/09/2011: Talk: Geology of North Wexford by Peter O’Connor.
04/10/2011: Talk: Gorey Workhouse by Aidan Breen
02/12/2011: Talk: Rural Electrification by Mattie Duggan